After celebrating the outgoing county manager, the Macon County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted on Oct. 8 to hire Emergency Services Director Warren Cabe as the interim county manager.
“It is humbling, flattering. I appreciate the consideration from the board, and I hope to fill the shoes of Derek Roland that I’m trying to fill and do that job as well as he did that job and do what’s best for the county, serve the board, serve the people of Macon County, and try to do what’s best,” Cabe said after the vote.
The motion came after a 28-minute mid-meeting closed session to discuss the qualifications and conditions of employment of an interim county manager.
Compensation for the interim position will be an annual salary of $154,526.45 plus a $500 car allowance, effective from Nov. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
“Warren, I just want to thank you for the example you set for me…your leadership, especially during COVID-19 most recently, every time when the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan, you’ve always been a steady hand and you’ve always done it with confidence, you’ve always done it with grace and I just want to say I’m so happy that you’re getting appointed as interim and there’s nobody I could have hand-selected that would have been any better fit,” Roland said to Cabe.
Macon County hopes to have a permanent county manager by June 30, 2025, when Cabe’s interim term ends. When asked if he would be interested in the job, Cabe said he was not sure.
“I’d like to see how this opportunity works,” Cabe said of the interim county manager position. “I’d like to see how the board feels about me and make sure that we’re effective together. And at that point, I’ll make a decision and we’ll go from there.”
Cabe said he would likely be retiring after this new role ends, whether that is June 30, 2025, or later. When asked about his Emergency Management Director position, Cabe said the county will soon be advertising to hire someone.
According to board attorney Eric Ridenour, four applied for the interim county manager position, but two withdrew during the interview process.
Cabe said he’s learned as much from Roland as he may think he’s learned from him. Cabe said he appreciates the vote of confidence to make “at least an honest attempt.”
“I will do my best to make sure that we keep going the direction we’re going, and we keep following the same process we’ve followed, and we’re following the same direction you’ve started, and this board wants to follow, and we’ll do our best to make sure we get there,” Cabe said to the commissioners.
County Manager added to pay scale
In a late agenda addition, the board unanimously approved adding “County Manager” to the Macon County pay scale at Classification 52, which is between $139,674.34 and $209,511.51 annual salary, with a midpoint of $174,592.93.
Human Resources Director/Board Clerk Tammy Keezer said previously, the county manager wasn’t included on the pay scale. The Grade 52 recommendation comes on a comparison of other high-level positions, such as finance director, dentist and physician, with Grade 60 the highest. When asked by Commissioner John Shearl about average county manager salaries based on his research, Keezer said this is comparable to counties of similar population size.
Roland honored
At the onset of the meeting, the commissioners thanked Roland for his service, as this was his last scheduled commissioners meeting before leaving effective Oct. 31.
Roland announced his resignation at the Sept. 10 meeting, ending a decade-plus tenure that started in December 2013. Roland started his career in March 2009 as a planner with Macon County, before leaving three years later to work with the Town of Franklin before returning as Macon County manager at the age of 28 in December 2013.
Prior to recognizing him, Roland spoke and thanked those in attendance for a reception held earlier in the day.
“It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life, outside of probably my salvation, marriage, the birth of your children, anything like that, aside from those things, serving as the county manager for my home county has been the greatest honor of my life,” Roland said.
Roland said he was blessed to be hired by a group of commissioners, including Ronnie Beale and Jim Tate, who were in attendance.
“I was fortunate to work alongside a group of employees who are the most awesome, they’re the most kind, they’re the hardest working, just truly the definition of what it means to be a public servant. We’ve done great things together. We’ve saved our health insurance plan, we put into place pay studies that has helped us move forward. We have been able to move forward with capital projects, we have continued to be able to invest in education. And if you look, it culminates with the building of the new Franklin High School and the Highlands project. With the sum of the work we have put in, that the employees of Macon County have put in over the last decade, I have been fortunate enough to play on the team.”
Roland pointed out the board was about to start the FHS and Highlands projects, the largest capital investment in Macon County history, saying it goes back to the leadership of the board over the last decade and the employees working together.
“Macon County will forever be special to me, and all the Macon County employees, I love each and every one of you and I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve given me and everything you’ve shown me,” Roland said, thanking the board for showing confidence in him and saying he is excited for what the future holds.
The commissioners then lined up in front of the dais, with Commissioner Danny Antoine leading off by reading a “resolution of recognition and appreciation for 11 years of outstanding service.” The resolution noted Roland growing the fund balance to over $45 million without raising taxes, several capital projects, actions during the pandemic, enhancing hiring procedures and instituting a pay study, among other attributes. The resolution commends Roland’s attitude, leadership by example, mentorship and customer service to employees and citizens.
Commissioner Josh Young then presented a plaque commemorating Roland’s 11 years of service. Shearl presented another plaque from the Board of Commissioners and Commissioner Paul Higdon gave Roland a present on behalf of the board.
Back at the dais, Young said he did everything he could to stop Roland from resigning, commending his “quiet strength” in always having the right answer, but not presenting it unless asked. Higdon said he doesn’t know how Roland puts up with it all and wished him nothing but the best.
Antoine said Roland has been a massive help to him every time he called and tried to convince him not to leave. Board Chair Gary Shields said he loves Roland like a brother. Shearl said while there have been some differences between the two, he knows everything he’s done has been from the heart and hated to see him go as he’s done a terrific job.
Former Commissioner Jim Tate said when the board hired Roland, there was apprehension about hiring a 28-year-old. However, Tate said Roland turned into one of his best friends.
“I’ll forever be grateful to him. I’ll always be grateful for his service as county manager,” Tate said.
Former Commissioner Ronnie Beale says hiring Roland was the best vote he ever cast on the board.
“You can be very proud of your tenure and look forward to your next journey,” Beale said.